MARKET Place, Devizes has been chosen alongside famous landmarks such as The Royal Mile in Edinburgh and The Shambes in York as one of the prettiest places in the country.

National Express coach company has put The Market Place at number nine in its top 15 of prettiest town centre or city locations.

National Express boss Chris Hardy said: “A long Bank Holiday weekend is right up everybody’s street so we thought the time was ripe to reveal the UK’s prettiest to inspire people to take somewhere new in their stride this Easter.

"You can hardly fail to appreciate the quintessentially English charms of Devizes and we hope our list encourages more people to come and enjoy the town this Easter – as well as inspire people locals to visit somewhere new."

The survey of 1,000 people UK wide was conducted to uncover the nation’s most charming streets in a bid to encourage people to take in somewhere new over the Easter weekend.

Top spot went to York but The Circus, Bath came in third and Catherine Hill in Frome was 14th.

Devizes Mayor Jane Burton was delighted that the town where she was born and bred did so well.

The full list is:

1. The Shambles, York

2. The Royal Mile, Edinburgh

3. The Circus, Bath

4. Waterside (into Southern Lane) Stratford upon Avon

5. Steep Hill, Lincoln

6. Gold Hill, Shaftesbury and Kings Parade, Cambridge

7. Elm Hill, Norwich

8. Eastgate Street, Chester

9. The Market Place, Devizes

10. Main Street, Harworth and Harbour Street, Whitstable

11. The Square, Winchester

12. Thomas Street, Wells and Gay Street, Newcastle

13. Cecily Hill, Cirencester and Ledbury Road, Notting Hill

14. Catherine Hill, Frome

15. The Homend, Ledbury